Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Los Angeles Times article 10/14/03

A couple of the WPS board regulars were interviewed at length by a LAT reporter last month. She was gathering information for a special article on Mt. Whitney. Also, my rescue group was asked to contribute info on the SAR operations that have occurred there over the years. (They were most interested in finding out how many people have died.)

The reporter sent me an e-mail yesterday, saying that the article will appear in their new weekly "Outdoors" section next Tuesday, Oct. 14.

For those who don't have access, check http://www.latimes.com/features/outdoors/. You may have to register, but it's free and relatively easy.

DHM that's a good point, but when you pick up any paper in California you should expect a certain slant. Take it for what it's worth, which is what, about $0.50 and you get lots more articles extra...

Should be out tomorrow!

dont forget its the leftangeles times

The gist of the article as it was put to me was about what it takes to get to the top. The obvious answer to a backpacker wanting to The Main Trail in the summer is a permit. I will be interested in the way it turns out.

I hate the Times but other Whitney articles I have given a fair accounting of the subject they were trying to cover.

Bill

There are quite a few Whitney articles in today's Outdoor section. I wonder how many comments we'll see here by people who *don't* feel the need to express their boring political views about the paper.

k alan, if you read this whiney liberal paper you would have found out that your little pop off about the bears that had 2 hikers for breakfast were grissleys after all, brown bears are grizzleys. For once the la times reported something instead of making it

throcker obviously didn't take the challenge, but at least he spells "grizzlies" in more imaginative ways than most people can manage.

Brown bears and grizzlies were classified as separate species until relatively recently. These days, they are considered to be distinct subspecies. Frankly, I doubt that it makes much difference which one eats you.

BobR's link works well, you shouldn't have to sign up to view article. You do need to wait for the article at the top to load to see the one that was posted today by Renee Tawa.
Main points:
A lot of hikers are unprepared. (shocker)
Making hikers have a pre-hike lecture.(hopefully not ones who have already hiked the trail)
Rangers thinking of allowing guides on trail.(hmm, but please don't take the permit I may have gotten)
Rangers thinking of taking solar toilets out.(have they ever stayed at Helen lake on Mt. Shasta? poop everywhere, not everyone is willing to pack it out and Shasta doesn't get nearly the same use as Whitney, not sure of the numbers, but say multiply the six piles I saw by 10 in an area that is smaller the Trail Camp.)

So they are ! and are not were!
just as the times used to be a paper.
now just lefist propaganda.
the article was ok.

I was excited to read the LA times Whitney Section....Turns out it was a little generic. It probably sent the message...come prepared. They gave more attention to managing the Whitney area then I would have expected. They had the proposed trail up the Mountaineers route going right up over the cliffs above UBSL. Who drew that route? I thought it was nice they gave Doug some good press. I was dissapointed Bob R. and the rescue group didn't make the paper. That would have been facinating to read. Certainly the article did not say to rush out and do Whitney with no preparation.

The article about the Boy Scouts was great, the best quote was that the leader stated that each of these boys would be able to lead a group in the future.
I was very dissapointed to hear that the Forrest Service wants to allow guides. Not only will it take permits away, but you have the ol money behind the closed door act. I cant amagine the Forrest Service approving this unless someones getting his palms greased.
How many sherpas will each trip require?

High Sierrra,

Your conclusion on the high points are spot on but let me add...

The Pre-Hike Lecture...They will have to give it to everyone because how are they going to know if you are grizzled veteran or some newbie, plus they wouldn't want to offend anyone. Also, they are going to check your gear. All this will be done by some pimply kid who doesn't know jack. As the line to pick up your permit stretches back to Olancha.

Guides on the Main Trail...You have to be kidding me. This is welfare for local guides pure and simple. Anyone with a little experience can do this trip solo. Are sherpas soon to follow.

Solar Toilets...Not only should they keep the toilets but they should bear boxes at Outpost and Trail Camps. Oye's, the Inyo's head man in the Southern Sierra, makes the assumption this is wilderness and this is a mistake. It's time they recognize it make special ** more ** special rules for the Main Trail.

The death by glissade...This was passed off as a fall. Whereas the way I heard the story this was the 2nd time this guy glissade down from Trail Crest utilizing trekking poles as his brake instead of an ice axe. This was the only glaring mistake I saw the whole section.

I spoke to Doug yesterday and the other thing they are planning to do is to restrict access to Whitney Portal to only day hikers and day users, backpackers will have to take a shuttle up the Portal. My guess it will be a similar to the system now in place in Agnew - Red's Meadows Area in Mammoth. Figure at least $7/head.

If they really wanted to limit the impact up there they lower the number of permits or raise the permit fee to a couple hundred bucks.

All these changes sound like a do something-do anything without regard to the reality that Mt. Whitney is in one day driving distance to about 20,000,000 people.

Bill

so let me get this as straight as possible, this doug person who has the sole food and clothing outlet at the portal will be making more cash than ever because the overniters can no longer park at the portal.
Nice move dougie now when the real hikers and climbers are out of range of you money grubbing hands you can prey on the tourists without anyone else around

Taking out the solar toilets would be a terrible idea. Not everyone would pack out, causing a bigger problem. The article about the scouts coming from Onion valley was perhaps the best part.

A shuttle for backpackers would be a terrible idea, unless it ran late into the night and early in the morning. Imagine coming from some other trail past Whitney and arriving at the Portal after the last shuttle leaves.. What are you going to do...make camp in the parking lot.

Am I missing something, or was Doug merely *reporting* possible restrictions on access a couple of posts back? A couple of the folks here seem mighty eager to dump on Doug for the slightest reason, real or imagined, for reasons lost on the rest of us.

Maybe its time to close up shop at the portal?
It would certainly free up quite a bit of parking.
Im am sure the merchants in lone pine would appricate the bussiness.
Just think of all the pollution we would save not having everything delivered up there.
Buy it in lone pine or stay home.
it sure seems fair

Cmore,

Actually this Doug person thinks shuttle a horrible idea, so there goes your rant all to hell. If you want to know exactly how he feels about things drive up there and talk to him. If you ask him a question or ask his opinion he'll give you a thoughtful reply.

Bill

Often wondered how many of the posters who like to bag on Doug have ever had a detailed conversation with him (or Earlene or Doug Jr.) They provide a lot of service in an out-of-the way location and frequent assistance on the trail to people in distress. The thought of the cheeseburgers and a cold beer can really help lighten your steps at the end of the trail. Always willing to share an idea or experience, and provide this board to alow all of us to communicate experiences and information, usually in a manner very helpful to newcomers, as I was a few years ago. My hiking companions and I ALL enjoy the Portal Store & staff and this site.